Not On The Menu: High Heels Soon to be Considered Unfair DresscodeVictoria, BC - Workers rights group Retail Action Network is anticipating that Bill M237 introduced by Green Party MLA Andrew Weaver will mean an end to the requirement for some workers to wear high heels on the job.

“There are restaurants, such as the Cactus Club, that still have a requirement to wear a 3” heel to work. This is completely unacceptable and needs to change.” says Retail Action Network organizer Kaitlyn Matulewicz.

Requiring workers to wear high heels is not just a health and safety issue; the problem is bigger than footwear. The Retail Action Network says that archaic gendered uniforms that involve high heels, short skirts, low-cut tops, and even hair and make-up requirements are discriminatory and reflect a broader workplace culture where sexism and sexual harassment are rampant. While ending employer imposed high heel requirements is an important first step, more change is needed.

Matulewicz recently completed a study on sexual harassment in BC restaurants. Her research showed that some restaurant employers use the reliance workers have on tips to pressure them to accept sexualized and gender-based dress codes. BC’s liquor servers minimum wage is $1.25/hour lower than the regular minimum wage and increases a server’s dependency on tips.

While more needs to be done to combat sexism and discrimination in restaurants, ending employer mandated high heels and gender based footwear requirements is an important first step. The bill comes at an important time as the Retail Action Network and many restaurant workers are making gender-based dress codes an important political issue in the lead up to the election.

The Retail Action Network is calling for the elimination of the lowered liquor server minimum wage; full protection for server’s tips; and a end to discriminatory and gender-based dress codes.